Chronology of Coverage

Feb. 27, 2015

Feb. 26, 2015

The Upshot; Pres Obama's proposals to improve fortunes of middle class might be more difficult and more expensive than those implemented to help the poor since the middle class's growth is driven more by private employers and wages they pay them; given this, best approach right now will be to institute small-scale policies that both support middle class workers and increase overall economic growth. MORE

Feb. 25, 2015

Real Estate developers across United States are increasingly focused on wealthy buyers amid uneven economic recovery; poor credit history and high levels of debt continue to hobble low-income home buyers, whereas sales in the $1 million range remain reliably brisk, despite small share they represent of the overall housing market. MORE

Feb. 25, 2015

Federal Reserve Chairwoman Janet L Yellen, appearing before Congress, reports satisfaction with economic growth; signals possibility of interest rate increase as early as June 2015, but emphasizes that patience will be key amid persistently sluggish inflation. MORE

Feb. 25, 2015

Standard & Poor’s/Case-Shiller 20-city home price index rises 4.5 percent in December, up from 4.3 percent in November; Conference Board reports that its consumer confidence index fell to 96.4 in February, from revised 103.8 in January; other reports indicate slight slowdown of United States economic growth and brisk expansion in the service sector. MORE

Feb. 23, 2015

Tabitha Waugh, registered nurse in Huntington, West Virginia, epitomizes how the health care profession is increasingly providing inroads to the middle class as industrial jobs grow scarce; Waugh earns $27 per hour and has become main breadwinner for her family of four; health care industry now provides 4.5 million middle-class positions, up from just 1.4 million in 1980 (Series: A Shifting Middle). MORE

Feb. 23, 2015

Political Memo; Democrats and Republicans are wary of how to address improving economy in the presidential election of 2016; Republican Party is struggling with how to effectively craft a message to the times, and likely Democratic nominee Hillary Clinton must consider how close to associate herself with Pres Obama's legacy. MORE

Feb. 20, 2015

Paul Krugman Op-Ed column warns that Republican 'charlatan caucus,' whose members view world through ideological lens and adhere to faulty supply-side economics, continue to wield considerable influence over their party despite their consistent inaccuracy; scores rising presidential contender Scott Walker for pledging allegiance to this caucus by participating in event hosted by prominent supply-siders. MORE

Feb. 19, 2015

Nicholas Kristof Op-Ed column admits to his change of thinking regarding benefits of labor unions; comments that while once he focused on their flaws and abuses, now he can acknowledge damage the decline of unions is doing to the country; cites labor experts who note that waning union power is linked to rise in income inequality, decline in productivity and decrease in overall prosperity. MORE

Feb. 19, 2015

Official account of Federal Reserve's January policy-making meeting shows that it is concerned about slow pace of inflation, fragile economic growth and risk that raising benchmark interest rate too early could reverse recent gains. MORE

Feb. 19, 2015

Labor Dept says Producer Price Index in January experienced largest decline in five years due to lower energy costs, which could bolster arguments against increasing interest rates; Commerce Dept reports housing starts fell by 2 percent in January; reports combined with others suggest United States economy is growing moderately early in first quarter. MORE

Feb. 13, 2015

Paul Krugman Op-Ed column asserts monetary policy should be a theme of great importance in 2016 presidential elections, warning that current swirl of off-the-wall monetary views threatens to define post-election public policy; notes rising number of Republicans are adopting alarmist and conspiracy theorist views about inflation, and contends conservative views of money are often ideologically rather than practically driven. MORE

Feb. 8, 2015

The Upshot; Robert J Schiller Economic View column argues that several factors are causing persistent anxiety and uncertainty in the American workforce despite economic improvements; cites growing income inequality, the threat of automation to existing professions and other issues related to technology; holds that such anxieties are likely still hobbling the economic recovery, and contributing to strange economic dynamics. MORE

Feb. 3, 2015

Washington Center for Equitable Growth study finds improving educational performance in math and science scores could raise nation's gross domestic product over next 35 years; says efforts would pay for themselves over time; United States lags behind many other advanced nations in math and science scores. MORE

Feb. 2, 2015

Editorial assesses current state of the United States economy, and warns that relatively stable growth over past several years is not robust enough to address damage done by Great Recession; calls on Republican members of Congress to do much more the help American public instead of focusing on narrow priorities of their party. MORE

Feb. 1, 2015

Risky Business Project, group of highly influential policy and business leaders, represents unusual if powerful component of the climate change lobby; group's mission is to prepare American companies for climate-related threats like reduced crop yields and flooded railroads; consists of members with diverse ideologies and policy goals, though all agree that climate change could cost American business hundreds of billions of dollars. MORE

Jan. 31, 2015

Commerce Dept reports that United States economy grew 2.6 percent in fourth quarter of 2014, which most economists greet as positive indication of economy's progress. MORE

Jan. 29, 2015

Federal Reserve issues upbeat assessment of economic conditions after meeting of Federal Open Market Committee and indicates that it will not raise short-term interest rates before June; statement leaves time frame for when Fed will raise benchmark interest rate from near zero open. MORE

Jan. 28, 2015

Commerce Dept reports that orders for non-defense capital goods dropped 0.6 percent in December, far below economist expectations, as overall orders for durable goods decline by 3.4 percent; also reports rise in new-home sales and consumer confidence; data, along with several other reports, suggests mixed economic performance as falling oil prices and slow global growth weigh on United States economy. MORE

Jan. 27, 2015

The Upshot; real price of gasoline remains significantly higher than it was in the 1990s despite plunge in prices, highlighting persistent wage slowdown and other economic factors; clean and alternative energy sources could help curb the effect of such oil price cycles on the United States economy, freeing disposable income for working Americans. MORE

Jan. 26, 2015

Number of middle-class households, or those making $35,000 to $100,000 annually, continues to narrow since 2000 as more fall down the economic ladder; at same time, increasingly fewer of the 53 million households remaining in middle class, or about 43 percent of total, fit traditional image of married couple raising children. MORE

Jan. 26, 2015

Three Chicago residents cited by Federal Reserve Chairwoman Janet L Yellen in March 2014 speech are still struggling financially but are slowly improving their lot; Jermaine Brownlee, Dorine Poole and Vicki Lira are working, but making less money than before recession; their stories highlight how recovery is still incomplete even as Fed wants to raise its benchmark interest rate in mid-2015. MORE

Jan. 24, 2015

National Assn of Realtors reports that sales of existing homes increased 2.4 percent to annual rate of 5.04 million units in December 2014, but warns that housing recovery in United States will remain gradual due to apprehension of first-time home buyers. MORE

Jan. 23, 2015

Paul Krugman Op-Ed column compares results of economic policy and recovery effort in Europe and America following recession; notes that America, which followed far less austere approach than Europe, is faring better economically; holds that European leaders, in implementing harsh austerity measures, have both misread their situation and behaved irresponsibly. MORE

Jan. 22, 2015

Uneasiness affects people across country who say they are still earning less pay than before the recession and think Pres Obama overemphasized economic recovery in his State of the Union address; people anticipate few efforts to help middle class from divided government that appears partisan and frozen. MORE

Jan. 22, 2015

Op-Ed article by Columbia Business School Dean Glenn Hubbard maintains Pres Obama's State of the Union economic proposals are merely talking points and warns they have no hope of passing a Republican Congress; offers that they can provide plan for tax and entitlement reform, one based on growth and work, not redistribution. MORE

Jan. 20, 2015

The Upshot; plummeting oil prices and turbulence in international markets have pushed the average rate on a 30-year fixed-rate mortgage to 3.8 percent, lowest rate since May 2013, and far lower than mortgaged taken in 2011 an before; shift means that many Americans should reconsider refinancing. MORE

Jan. 17, 2015

Bureau of Labor Statistics reports that index of consumer prices rose just 0.8 percent in 2014, slowest pace of inflation during an economic recovery in the last half-century; figure represents evidence that recovery is still incomplete, and could hamper the Federal Reserve as it seeks to retreat from stimulus. MORE

Jan. 16, 2015

Paul Krugman Op-Ed column asserts that inability of the Swiss to avoid deflationary trap through currency devaluation is cautionary tale for United States and other countries struggling to determine best economic policies and interest rates; holds no nation is immune to global economic influence. MORE

Jan. 15, 2015

The Upshot; report sponsored by Washington research group Center for American Progress finds that while wages for poor and middle class have stagnated in United States, they have risen in countries that intervene more with free market, provide more education to poor children and give employees more power in workplace; proposes solutions including more tax breaks for middle class and fewer for executive compensation. MORE

Jan. 15, 2015

Federal Reserve issues beige book report that finds signs of moderate or modest economic growth in 12 regional banking districts in December 2014 and first part of January 2015; Fed warns that low gasoline prices are beginning to affect some industries. MORE

Jan. 12, 2015

Editorial welcomes exceptional strides in the labor market in 2014, but warns progress highlights important, ongoing weaknesses and risks; notes employment growth continues to lag behind population growth, and that December increase was largely concentrated in low-wage work; calls on new Republican majority to refrain from battles that could turn basic acts of governance into serial fiscal crises. MORE

Jan. 10, 2015

Republicans want to take credit for nation's improved economic conditions, factor that can significantly impact 2016 presidential election; Labor Dept reports that employers created 2.95 million jobs in 2014 and unemployment rate dropped to 5.6 percent. MORE

Jan. 10, 2015

Op-Ed article by economist Jacob Bernstein calls for Congress to use Trans-Pacific Partnership, trade deal between United States and 11 other countries, to restrict currency manipulation; holds that currency is being manipulated by some other countries in manner that results in American trade deficit and loss of millions of jobs; says that diplomacy has not worked to bring about currency management, and that direct approach, like writing rules in agreement, is needed. MORE

Jan. 10, 2015

Labor Dept reports total employment numbers were up in December 2014 and unemployment rate improved to 5.6 percent; while numbers offer positive outlook for United States economy in 2015, decline in average hourly earnings suggests that economic recovery is still incomplete; combination of low unemployment and low wages complicates matters for Federal Reserve, which is expected to raise interest rates in 2015 for first time in years. MORE

Jan. 10, 2015

Commerce Dept announces inventories of wholesale businesses increased 0.8 percent in November 2014, following 0.6 percent increase in October, largest gain since April. MORE

Jan. 9, 2015

Paul Krugman Op-Ed column deplores Congressional Republicans for taking credit for sharp increase in American economic growth, while data shows that growth began before they took control of Congress; faults Republicans for frequently ignoring evidence and cooking up conspiracy theories in order to support its version of truth; contends Congress is controlled by members who never acknowledge error or learn from their mistakes. MORE

Jan. 9, 2015

James B Stewart Common Sense column reveals results of annual survey of successful investors that predicts significant financial volatility in year ahead and notes there are early indications to support their assertions; examines select responses from informal poll, including predictions on price of bonds and oil. MORE

Jan. 9, 2015

Federal Reserve reports consumer borrowing rose by $14.1 billion in November following a $16 billion increase in October, pushing consumer debt excluding real estate loans to $3.3 trillion, indicating that consumers have become more comfortable with debt amid economic recovery. MORE

Jan. 8, 2015

Pres Obama will try to rectify slow housing sector by dropping insurance rates on federally issued mortgages to first-time home buyers, minorities and low-income Americans; modest move would give savings of $900 annually per home buyer. MORE

Jan. 8, 2015

Federal Open Market Committee minutes from December 2014 meeting reveal Fed officials were more optimistic about domestic economy while still concerned about global economy; notes suggest Fed will continue to keep interest rates low for some time. MORE

Jan. 8, 2015

Commerce Dept reports United States trade deficit fell in November 2014 to $39 billion, 7.7 percent down from revised October figure of $42.2 billion, with exports lowering 1 percent to $196.4 billion; imports also fell 2.2 percent to $235.4 billion; trade deficit has been impacted by falling oil prices and booming domestic energy production. MORE

Jan. 7, 2015

Institute for Supply Management reports that its service index fell to 56.2 in December 2014, down from 59.3 in November, indicating slowing growth in service sector; Commerce Dept reports that factory orders fell by 0.7 percent in November, fourth consecutive monthly decline. MORE

Jan. 6, 2015

Jan. 6, 2015

Continuing rise of the dollar against the euro and most other currencies has broad implications for the global economy, reflecting strong relative growth in the United States; euro trades below $1.19, lowest level in nine years; trend could present challenges for US importers, boons for US travelers and could lessen inflationary pressure in Europe and Japan. MORE

Jan. 5, 2015

Paul Krugman Op-Ed column questions how much Pres Obama should be credited with rapid improvement in the economic recovery; points out while economists have historically emphasized the role of the Federal Reserve over the White House, Obama has been effective in terms of emergency stimulus spending and shielding the Fed from political opposition; holds those who blamed economic doldrums on Obama must face fact that they appear foolish. MORE

Jan. 2, 2015

Statements by Mario Draghi, president of the European Central Bank, led investors to conclude that the bank would soon buy large quantities of eurobonds. MORE

Jan. 2, 2015

Local and state governments nationwide, for first time since 2011, are spending on suspended projects, increasing prosperity; federal spending is also rising in some sectors; Naples, Fla, spent money to help pelicans trapped in fishing lines, in symbol of rising affluence; political pressure to cut spending has eased as federal deficit has dropped sharply; some economists say infrastructure spending and other capital investments will spur economy. MORE

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